RockyMountainWingGal

Ditto on the two teams in Fla. I have pretty much never figured out why the Panthers exist in the first place. And being a fan of a West team, they pretty much don't exist for me: not on the schedule, never on tv, unlikely to ever meet in the POs.....

True they need to assess this on a team-by-team basis. If a franchise is below some standard level for several years - yes they certainly should be fair game for moving!!! IMO there are a few franchises out there that just don't need to exist (nor would their supposed fans even notice if they left!)

The only big problem I have with this is why not schedule the 2-day layoff BETWEEN cities?? For example between games 2 and 3, or 4 and 5?? That way the home team could spend one extra day in their town before traveling. I guess that would make too much sense. I really hate the 2-day layoffs, reminds me of the NBA.

This one gets overplayed a bit on sports talk shows - and it was a long time ago - but the legend has stuck. From Wikipedia: The most infamous example was the "Santa Claus Incident," on December 15, 1968, at Franklin Field, in which angry fans, upset at the conclusion of yet another failed season under head coach Joe Kuharich (including first losing 11 games, then winning 2, which prevented the team from getting first pick in the next draft, O.J. Simpson), booed and threw snowballs at a man dressed as Santa Claus during the halftime show.[6] Frank Olivo, a 20-year-old fan dressed as Santa Claus who had been drafted from the stands as an ad hoc replacement for the scheduled Christmas pageant, was the target of the crowd's anger.[6] As Olivo recounts, fans threw snowballs at him after he reached the end zone, shouting that he made a poor Santa. Olivo was interviewed years later by NFL Films, recalling the incident with a smile, saying that he thought the whole thing was humorous.

I just read an article from the paper copy of the latest SI, talking about the Cup Finals. Shanny was interviewed and is watching the series from his NYC flat. It seems he is settled into the City - I would bet he stays with the Rangers.

^^^ I wouldn't believe any of the rumors. How many people floated rumors of Franzen "done for the season" when that's not what we heard from the Wings? Hopefully the Wings play stellar +/- Homer and go back to the Joe up 3-1.

I love how they Spurs got ousted by the Lakers - with the bad call in game 5 and all. I cannot stand watching the Spurs - and they pretty much were handed a championship last year by the league interfering in the Suns series. And now they want people to feel sorry for them 'cause they were the recipients this year of a bad call that influenced the outcome of a game. Boo-hoo go cry me a river.

The major sports stations in Detroit have some kind of press connection with all the teams. While they are not going to get any inside info either - they likely get it from within the Wings organization and NOT from tsn.....

That's a tough one. For the most part I cannot stand the Avs fans. But since I've lived in Denver for 17 years, I've now got some good friends that don't know any better and are Avs fans. I'm probably going to split a package with some of them this year. The thing I cannot stand, and I know it's cliche, but seriously most of them are just transient hockey fans. They haven't followed the league for long - have no idea it existed before 1995 - and pay attention to nothing but their team. You cannot really say that about most of the east coast teams (unless you count the southeast - ugh). I have no problem with Pens fans - but I want my team to win so I'll challenge them right now. I had no problem with their coach until he whined like a 3 yr old. Roberts is an ass for what he did to Franzen, but hey he did play for the Leafs for 4 yrs

I'd thought we seen the last of Mac for the season. He wasn't contributing anything out there. Hopefully if he comes back after a few games off - he could actually chip in....

I didn't hear them say "out for rest of playoffs". They reported "possible" torn groin or sports hernia. Will know more Friday. He's obviously probably doubtful for Saturday, but "lower body injury" could mean anything. Anyways, Wings will need to step it up and win w/o him just like we did w/o Franzen for a few games...

Gill did get called twice for cross checking Homer. Probably should have been 3x and probably should have been a high stick on Lids - but all and all penalties were 3/wings and 5/Pens. I'd be more concerned if they canceled another of Homer's goals Officiating did not lose us the game - no we shouldn't be whining like Therrien. If anything lost us the game it was our PP - if that was working well it would have been a whole different story......

The real irony is the Sens, Rangers, and Flyers ALL whined and complained about the Pens not getting called for penalties - and the bad reffing in favor of the Pens. Now that the Pens are in the exact same situation - it's like they stole the playbooks for those teams - and are now the whiners and cryers themselves. And if they don't like it now, wait to see how it feels when you have goals taken away from you by the refs (well one guy really).

No. Pens have to win 4/5 games now vs. our Red Hot Wings. The Wings would have to completely fall apart for that to happen. Remember we went up 3-0 in the last two series - I think we have a good shot at it again tomorrow. Even if the Pens win game 3 - we just need a split. The Wings are a great road team...looking forward to it!

You're exactly right, he's an entertainer and I think it's great that ESPN has him on with Melrose. Any spotlight the NHL can get can only be good. There are plenty of dry NHL commentators - Cherry is good for the sport even though he sticks his foot in his mouth sometimes.

Don't take it from us - listen to Babcock himself: Babcock interview He says he is ready to play Franzen and Franzen is ready to play BUT they have to wait for a doctor's clearance. He said if it was his knee, not his head, he'd be playing already.

You can't really say that about the kids Crosby and Malkin - have to admit it took some heart to get where they are. But......here's to ending that in the next few weeks - Go Wings!!!

But Q is a genius compared to Granato - which is just a sad commentary on this hiring all together. Obviously, this franchise has come serious rebuilding to do, but why not hire someone who can develop young players like Wolski and Stastny? Baffling.

They don't need Hossa - he's just a rental for this season. They will keep Malkin over him (nobody is that stupid). Pens can keep both Sid and Malkin without much problem.

:rotflmao: Worst possible choice! With guys like Wilson et al out there they stay with Granato? The best thing for the Avs about Q leaving was that he would take Granato with him out the door. The only way this makes sense is that he is interim until they find someone better - and pretty much anyone is better. I was even thinking of buying a 14 game plan package - but now I don't know if I can stomach looking at that idiot behind the bench!!

We'll loan him to you for one of the games - then you can see for yourself how you like it. p.s. I don't think he's as egregious as many make out

Adam Deadmarsh crashed head first into the boards hard - I remember it well. He never recovered from that injury, but as far as I know he did not have concussion problems before the accident (ironically I think he was playing against his former team the Avs). Franzen as far as I know didn't sustain any one injury to the head. Correct me if I'm wrong but other than all out tough playoff hockey I don't recall any hits to the head, etc. Therefore I think his situation is much more positive than Deadmarsh's was. On another note, for people who question his motivation, the guy will without a doubt do anything he can to get into the Stanley Cup Finals games. Migrain headaches aren't exactly the same as foot or ankle injuries that can be played through - they can affect your vision, thinking etc. Anyhow, I am confident he will be back soon - please come back Mule!!!

Ditto. He went through the line and shook hands as he should - saw nothing odd about the Oz shake. Of course he just got his a$$ kicked so what do people want - for him to be all smiles or something? Either way he's golfing now - maybe Oz should send him some clubs.

Frustrating. First it's "he could play in a game 7" then "he'll be back for the finals", now "he'll be back after game 1". Very depressing seen as how Franzen would push us over the edge in this series if you ask me.... But, I'll wait until I hear something directly from the Wings before I freak out about rumors. It'sthe Stanley Cup finals and you know he's begging to play - so hopefully it works out.

This series was over before the puck dropped today. Wish I could say the same thing about our series - thought it would be over when I got back into town yesterday. I guess when you get to play the Flyers in your conference finals this is what happens.....